Burglar alarm

ABSTRACT

An alarm device for frightening intruders consisting of a keywound, spring-driven siren having a gear train between its driving spring and its rotor. The siren is mounted on one leaf of a spring clip adapted to embrace the pintle sleeve portions of a conventional door hinge. Pivotally mounted in the siren assembly is a spring-biased vertical shaft with a first arm lockingly engageable with a gear of the gear train and a second arm engageable with the door and arranged to rotate the shaft so as to release the gear when the door is opened and thereby to cause the siren to be activated.

[ 51 Oct. 17,1972

United States Patent Forman Willey G. Forman, 153 S. Palm 542,742 11/1955 Belgium.....................l16/147 Drive, Beverly Hills, Calif. 90212 July 16, 1971 Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi [22] Filed:

Attorney--Berman, Davidson and Herman [21] Appl. No.: 163,326

[57] ABSTRACT An alarm device for frightenin a key-wound, spring-driven si [52] U S Cl ...116/86, 116/91, 116/147, g intruders consisting of 340/274, 340/405 ren having a gear train [51] Int. between its driving spring and its rotor, The siren i mounted on one leaf of a sprin g clip adapted to em- [58] Field of Search..............l l6/75, 85, 86, 9l', 147',

brace the pintle sleeve portions of a conventional door hinge. Pivotally mounted in the siren assembly is a spring-biased vertical shaft with a first arm lockingly [5 6] References Cited engageable with a gear of the gear train and a second arm engageable with the door and arranged to rotate mm Nu Ernn T nm mmm Twwm HSDS S 934 @056 T w l UHW the shaftso as to release the gear when the door is i opened and thereby to cause the siren to be activated. 1 16/91 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures a a II II PATENTED 17 I972 3,698,352

IMEXTOR. lV/LLEY G. 1 04 444 ATTORNEYJ.

BURGLAR ALARM This invention relates to alarm devices, and more particularly to a door alarm device adapted to be mounted on a door and providing a loud warning sound when the door is opened, for example, by an intruder or other unauthorized person.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved alarm device adapted to be mounted on a door, the device being simple in construction, be easy to install and being reliable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved alarm mechanism for generating a loud noise when a door is open by an intruder or other unauthorized person, the device being inexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, being compact in size, and being easy to set up for use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved spring-operated alarm device arranged to be mounted on the pintle sleeve portions of a standard door hinge and being adjustable so that it can be installed in a wide range of different locations adjacent a door, the device requiring no special tools for its installation and requiring no electrical connections thereto.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an improved alarm device according to the present invention installed on the hinge portion associated with a door and set up for operation so as to respond to the opening of the door.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the alarm device employed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved door alarm device constructed in accordance with the present invention. The door alarm device comprises a spring clip assembly having a pair of arms 12 and 13 which are pivotally connected at a vertical hinge assembly 14. The hinge assembly 14 comprises 9 vertical hinge pin 15 engaged on opposite sides thereof by opposing channel portions 16 and 17 formed on the arms 12 and 13, the channel portions being rotatable relative to the hinge pin 17, and the arms being provided with the respective leftward extensions 18 and 19, as shown in FIG. 2, and with a biasing coil spring 20 which surrounds the hinge pin 15 and which has its opposite ends 21 and 22 bearing respectively on the inside surfaces of the extensions 18 and 19, as clearly shown in FIG. 2, whereby to bias the rightward portions of arms 12 and 13 towards each other. The rightward portion of the arm 12, shown at 24, is relatively flat, whereas the rightward portion of the opposite arm 13, shown at 25, is substantially arcuately curved and is almost semicylindrical. The flat portion 24 has an arcuately curved end flange 26 and the arcuate arm portion has an end edge abuttable with the end edge of flange 26, as shown in FIG. 2, and biased towards such abutment by the action of the biasing spring 20. As will be presently explained, the spring clip is engageable on the pintle sleeve of a standard hinge assembly, such as the hinge assembly 27, shown in FIG. 1.

Secured on the flat arm portion 24 in an enclosure defined between arm portions 24 and 25 is a keywound spring-driven sounding device 28 which is provided with a housing 29 having a flat top wall 30 and having an apertured bottom wall portion 31 which forms part of the sounding mechanism of the device.

' The housing is also provided with the peripheral wall 33 which is likewise apertured at 34 adjacent the apertured bottom wall 31. Provided in the housing 29 are spaced partition walls 35 and 36 defining an upper compartment 37, an intermediate compartment 38 and a lower compartment 39. Journaled in the lower compartment 39 is a vaned rotor 40 which has a driving pinion 41 meshing with a gear 42 which is coupled through a conventional gear train and a driving spring to a driving shaft 43 provided with a wind-up key 44. The conventional energy-storing spring 45 is housed in a circular cage 70 surrounding shaft 43 in the compartment 37. The spring has its inner end connected to the shaft 43 and its outer end connected by the anchoring pin 46 to the peripheral wall of cage 70. Shaft 43 is provided with a conventional ratchet wheel 47 and a conventional spring-biased pawl 48 is provided in the chamber 37 to engage the ratchet wheel and to allow the energy of the spring 45 to be stored up in a conventionalmanner.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pivot bearing assembly 50 between the top end of the vaned rotor shaft 51 and the bottom end of the key shaft 43 allows the key shaft to be rotated independently of the rotor shaft 51 and the spring cage 70 and vice-versa. The spring cage 70 is rigidly connected to a gear 71 forming part of the bearing assembly 50.

Pivotally mounted between the partition walls 35 and 36 adjacent the peripheral shell wall 33 is a vertical shaft 52. Shaft 52 is provided with a lower inwardly extending arm 53 having at its end a dog element 54 which is engageable with the toothed periphery of the gear 42 to lock said gear in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. The vertical shaft 52 is provided with a top arm 55 which extends outwardly through an aperture 56 provided in the peripheral shell portion 33 and which has a horizontally extending portion 57 of substantial length. Threadedly engaged through the outer end of arm portion 57 is abutment screw 58 provided with a lock nut 59. The abutment screw 58 is located so as to be adjustable into engagement with a portion of the door 60 adjacent the hinge assembly 27, as shown in FIG. 1 when the alarm device is mounted on the pintle sleeve portions of the hinge assembly in the manner illustrated. A coiled biasing spring 61 surrounds the vertical shaft 52, one end thereof engaging against the inside surface of the housing shell portion 33 and the other end being secured to the arm 55 so as to bias the arm 53 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4. This biases the dog element 54 into locking engagement with the toothed periphery of gear 42, as shown in FIG. 4. However, when the arm 57 is rotated in a clockwise direction, for example, by the opening of the door 60, the arm 53 is similarly rotated and the dog element 54 is retracted from the periphery of gear 42, releasing the gear and allowing the driving spring 45 to unwind. Since gear 42 is meshingly engaged with pinion 41, the unwinding of the spring 45 rotates the vaned rotor 40 at a relatively rapid speed, thereby generating a loud noise in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

To make use of the device, it is first mounted on the pintle sleeve of the hinge assembly 27 in the manner above described, for example, with the flat leaf portion 24 engaged against the surface of a wall 73 adjacent the door and with the arm portion 57 extending substantially parallel to the door. The abutment screw 58 is then adjusted to engage the door and is locked in adjusted position by its associated lock nut 59. The driving spring 45 may then be wound up by using the winding key 44. The device is now set up for operation. When the door 60 is opened, namely, is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, the locking dog 54 is retracted from the gear 42, as above described, thereby releasing the mechanism and causing it to emit a loud sound, generated by the rapid rotation of the vaned siren rotor 40. This sound will act as a warning to the occupants of the dwelling as well as serving to frighten the would-be intruder or person attempting unauthorized entry.

The clip assembly preferably has the one flat arm portion 24 with the opposing arm portion 25 arcuately curved to define an enclosure for the siren assembly,

which also enables the alarm device to be mounted on a hinge which is relatively close to an adjacent wall, for example, the adjacent wall surface 73, shown in FIG. 1. Frequently the adjacent wall is at right angles to the door 60, and the provision of a flat arm element 24 allows the device to be easily mounted under these conditions. To spread apart the arm portions 24 and 25 for mounting the assembly, it is merely necessary to manually squeeze together the extensions 18 and 19, which causes the arm 13 to pivot in a clockwise direction relative to the arm 12, as viewed in FIG. 2, and which causes the ends of arm portions 25 and 26 to separate, allowing them to be engaged around the pintle sleeve elements of the hinge assembly on which the alarm device is to be mounted. When the extensions 18 and 19 are released, the spring clip assembly clamps around the pintle sleeve elements and supports the as sembly on the hinge in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, with the trigger arm element 57 extending substantially parallel to the door 60 in a position such that its abutment screw 58 may be adjusted to engage the door in the manner above described.

It will be further noted that the siren assembly 28 is substantially completely enclosed between the arms 24 and 25 and that the arcuately curved arm 25 acts as a shield or cover for said siren assembly, substantially concealing same and rendering the entire assembly relatively inconspicuous.

While a specific embodiment of an improved door alarm device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A door alarm device comprising a spring clip assembly having a pair of arms, means pivotally connecting said arms, and means biasing the arms toward each other, said arms being engageable on the pintle sleeve portions of the hinge of a door, a key-wound spring driven sounding device mounted on said spring clip assembly and having a rotary sounding element, a driving spring, and gear train means drivingly coupling said driving spring to said rotary sounding element, dog means pivoted in said sounding device and normally lockingly engaging said gear train means, and abutment means mounted on said dog means and being engageable with the adjacent door and located to rotate said dog means out of locking engagement with said gear train means when the door is opened, whereby to release said sounding element for rotation.

2. The door alarm device of claim 1, and wherein said sounding device is mounted on one of said arms and is included between the arms.

3. The door alarm device of claim 2, and spring means biasing said dog means toward locking engagement with said gear train means.

4. The door alarm device of claim 3, and wherein said gear train means comprises a plurality of intermeshing gears mounted on axes parallel to the axis of said sounding element, and wherein said dog means normally engages the toothed periphery of one of said gears.

5. The door alarm device of claim 4, and wherein said dog means comprises a shaft pivoted in said sounding device on an axis parallel to the axes of the gears and having a dog normally engaging said toothed periphery of one of the gears and having an outwardly extending arm, said abutment means comprising an ad justable abutment element on said last-named arm.

6. The door alarm device of claim 5, and wherein said abutment element comprises an abutment screw threadedly engaged with said last-named arm.

7. The door alarm device of claim 6, and wherein said sounding device comprises a siren having a housing provided with an apertured end wall and said sounding element comprises a vaned rotor located adjacent said apertured end wall.

8. The door alarm device of claim 7, and wherein said sounding device is provided with a spring-winding key arranged substantially coaxially with said vaned rotor.

9. The door alarm device of claim 2, and wherein said one of the arms is relatively flat and the other arm is arcuately curved to define an enclosure between the arms wherein said sounding device is received, enabling the device to be mounted adjacent a wall substantially at right angles to the door. 

1. A door alarm device comprising a spring clip assembly having a pair of arms, means pivotally connecting said arms, and means biasing the arms toward each other, said arms being engageable on the pintle sleeve portions of the hinge of a door, a key-wound spring driven sounding device mounted on said spring clip assembly and having a rotary sounding element, a driving spring, and gear train means drivingly coupling said driving spring to said rotary sounding element, dog means pivoted in said sounding device and normally lockingly engaging said gear train means, and abutment means mounted on said dog means and being engageable with the adjacent door and located to rotate said dog means out of locking engagement with said gear train means when the door is opened, whereby to release said sounding element for rotation.
 2. The door alarm device of claim 1, and wherein said sounding device is mounted on one of said arms and is included between the arms.
 3. The door alarm device of claim 2, and spring means biasing said dog means toward locking engagement with said gear train means.
 4. The door alarm device of claim 3, and wherein said gear trAin means comprises a plurality of intermeshing gears mounted on axes parallel to the axis of said sounding element, and wherein said dog means normally engages the toothed periphery of one of said gears.
 5. The door alarm device of claim 4, and wherein said dog means comprises a shaft pivoted in said sounding device on an axis parallel to the axes of the gears and having a dog normally engaging said toothed periphery of one of the gears and having an outwardly extending arm, said abutment means comprising an adjustable abutment element on said last-named arm.
 6. The door alarm device of claim 5, and wherein said abutment element comprises an abutment screw threadedly engaged with said last-named arm.
 7. The door alarm device of claim 6, and wherein said sounding device comprises a siren having a housing provided with an apertured end wall and said sounding element comprises a vaned rotor located adjacent said apertured end wall.
 8. The door alarm device of claim 7, and wherein said sounding device is provided with a spring-winding key arranged substantially coaxially with said vaned rotor.
 9. The door alarm device of claim 2, and wherein said one of the arms is relatively flat and the other arm is arcuately curved to define an enclosure between the arms wherein said sounding device is received, enabling the device to be mounted adjacent a wall substantially at right angles to the door. 